Apparatus for forming pellets



April 14, 1942.

5,1". MEAKIN APPARATUS FOR FORMING PELLETS' Filed Dec. 31, 1938 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R O T N E v B .0 42m HIS ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FORMING\PELLETS Edgar 'r. Meakin, sen Francisco, Calif. Application December 31, 1938 Serial No. 248,715

25 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus by means of which loose moldable materials may be continuously compressed into rods of predetermined cross-sectional form and thereafter broken' or severed into short sections to form pellets.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus of the classdescribed having but a single pair of co-acting extrusion members and possessed of great simplicity of construction and efliciency of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus of the class described which will more efficiently compress and extrude moldable materials since there is a more gradual compaction of the materials, before they enter scrapers or shields of any description to prevent dust, from the material being extruded, from escaping from the space between the die and its cooperative compression member into other parts of the mechanismwhere it is liable to foul or clog the latter;

Yet another object of the invention is to.provide, in an extruding device having an annular die ring, a cooperative extrusion roller of maxi- 'mum practical diameter so that as large a traction area is provided on both the, roller and die ring as is possible wherein the force exerted by the roller advancing over the die surface to compress moldable material placed between the aforesaid elements will greatly exceed the force tending to cause the material to squeeze out. from betweenthe converging and approaching die and 101181? surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide extruding apparatus in which no elaborate shielding instrumentalities are required, as in similar devices employing a plurality of pressure-applying members in conjunction with a perforated die member, to form chambers into which the material may be placed and'which confines the material until it is acted upon by the pressure-apply ing member of the mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in apparatus of the class described, without reducing the operating speed of the apparatus, a low degree of peripheral velocity of'the extrusion roller over the surface of the extrusion die so that a reduced amount of heat will be generated 7 in the material being extruded.

- An additional object of my invention is to provide, in apparatus of the class described and employing a cylindrical die ring and a single ex- 10 trusion roller,- improved means for mounting the roller whereby the same may be moved in an orbital path around the inner face of the die.

A further object of the invention is to provide,

in apparatus of the class described, improved. means for agitating the material to be processed in the feed hopper so as to prevent its packing and maintaining it in readily fiowable condition so that it will immediately flow into the die chamber to replace the material forced therefrom through the extrusion die.

My invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will be specifically set forth in the detailed description of the preferred form of the invention hereunto annexed. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific form thereof herein shown and described, as various other embodiments thereof may be employed within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure '1 is a vertical sectional view of an extrusion apparatus incorporating the improvementsof my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view ofthe structure for agitating the material. The view is taken in the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modified form of my invention.

In terms of broad inclusion, my invention comprises a suitably supported die member, preferably in the form of a cylindrical die ring having extrusion apertures extending through the wall thereof. A pressure-applying element, preferably a roller, is positioned within, and in axial eccentric relation to, the bore of the ring so as to provide between the roller and ring a crescentshaped spaceinto which material to be operated upon may be placed. Means is provided for moving the roller orbitally within the ring so that the material in the space will be compressed between adjacent surfaces of the-roller and the die ring and forced through the die apertures to form solidified rods which, upon emergence from the discharge end of each aperture, may be broken or cut into fragments to form pellets of pre- Means, preferably driven in determined size. synchronism with the movement of the roller and cooperative with a surface of the die ring,-1s provided for effecting this division of the rods. hopper is provided communicating with the die chamber into which loose material may be placed; and powered means is provided within the hopper to continually agitate the material so as to prevent its packing or partially consolidating in order to facilitate its rapid flow into the die chamber to replace material forced from the latter by the extrusion roller. Means is also provided for relatively movingthe die ring and the extrusion roller so that the confronting, material-engaging surfaces thereof may be variably spaced.

In greater detail and with particular reference, to the preferred form of my invention shown in the drawings, my apparatus comprises, preferably, a circular plate 5 having in, its upper surface a circular depression 1 adapted to form a seat for an annular die ring 8 which in turn is provided with a plurality of extrusion apertures 9. Plate 6 may be supported in any suitable manner but I prefer for this purpose to provide a plurality of legs having at their lower ends outturned feet |2 which are secured, in any desired manner, to a floor, or a base p1ate|3-as be admitted through the opening 3| and from which the material may be extruded through the die apertures 3.

Means is provided for compressing the material in the chamber and forcing it through the die perforations. Journaled in the bushings l9 and 29 is a vertically disposed drive shaft 35 slidably connected at its lower end by means of splines 36 with a coupling 31 which is rotated by a suitable speed reduction gear and prime mover 38. The mechanism represented by the numeral 38 is symbolic of any type of drive since the shaft may be directly connected to themotor as shown or the motor may be mounted at a position remotefrom the apparatus and the driving connection effected by a belt, chain, geared shaft or tained, a centrally bored bushing l9 having at of the plate 6 and axially concentric with the hub IT. The diameter of the depression 23 is such that the surface of the die ring seat 1 forms an annular ledge extending inwardly from the inner periphery of the die ring.

Secured, preferably, by capscrews 24 to the upper end of the die ring is a cover plate 26 having a centrally disposed hub 21 provided with a vertical bore 28 in which is secured a bushing 29. The axis of bushing 29 is disposed in vertical alinement with those of the die ring and the bushing 9. The cover plateis provided with an annular opening- 3| and upwardly diverging flanges 32, forming integral portions of the plate, which border the opening 3| to provide a circular hopper 33 into which material to be processed may be received. To connect the inner and outer sections of the cover which are separated by the annular opening 3|, spaced bars 34 are provided which are preferably cast as integral portions of the plate and bridge the opening. It will be seen that the die ring, having its respective ends closed by the plates 6 and 26, forms the side wall of an enclosed chamber into which material may by any other known lnstrumentality.

- Shaft 35, intermediate its ends, and within the chamber, is provided with an integral cylindrical portion 33 of enlarged diameter which is axially offsetwith. respect to the rotational axis of the remainder of the shaft so as to provide an eccentric crank. Journaled for rotation on the crank and concentric with the latter is an extrusion roller 4| of such diameter that its periphery lies in Figure 3, .is provided with a bore extending axially therethrough, which is radially offset with respect to the roller axis, and the periphery of this bore is provided with serrations 44. An anti-frictio n, preferably bronze, bushing 45 having peripheral serrations complementary with and meshing with the serrations 44 of the roller, is adapted to be slid axially into the roller bore and has a central, axially ofiset bore in which the crank 39 is journaled.

After extended operation the extrusion faces of the die and roller may become worn and irregular so that it is necessary to grind them true and smooth. This wear as well as the dressing of the faces of the extrusion members leaves a space or gap therebetween which is undesirable.

By the provision of the eccentric bushing 45, however, the roller may be'readjusted to place the periphery thereof close to or in contact with the inner face of the die. To do this it is merely necessary to withdraw the bushing 45 from the serrated roller 'bore, rotate it a few degrees and then reinsert it in the roller bore. This operation will effectively shift the rotational axis of the roller and thus bring the periphery of the roller toward the face of the die.

The extrusion roller, at its respective ends, is

provided with hub projections 46 in which suitable lubricant reservoirs and retainers 41 may be mounted for oiling the crank. The retainers 41 also serve to maintain the bushing 45 in thevextrusion roller bore. The'projectic-ns 46 are extended sufficiently, as will be noted in Figure 1, so that they contact, respectively, the top surface of the flange 2| and the bottom surface 48 of the cover plate 26. This maintains the extrusion roller in position, vertically, with respect to the die ring with the lower side of the latter resting on the surface of the depression I of the plate 6. A channel 49 is provided connecting the bottom of the hopper 33 and the crescent-shaped extrusion chamber 42, this being formed by a ring": 5| which is positioned between the bottom"sur-' amass:

has its outer periphery retained in registry with the inner edge of the hopper outlet opening by means of a circular lip it formed on the bottom of cover plate 29.

As the drive shaft 95 is rotated by the drive unit '39, the crank 39" will cause the extrusion roller l-l to move in an orbital path within and in substantial contact with the inner periphery of the die ring thereby compressing the material a 'and causing it to be forced in the m of compacted rods 53 from the outer ends of the die apertures 9 as is best shown in Figure 3.

It will be observed that by utilizing as large an extrusion roller as is practically possible within the die ring, the angle, formed by the respective confronting faces of the roller and the ring and originating at the point of tangency therebetween, is very slight as compared to the relatively large angle resulting from theuse of a plurality of smaller rollers. The large angle created by the small diameter rollers requires that considerable force be applied to orbitally move the rollers in order to compress the material into the die apertures. By using the larger roller, which aflords a siighter approach angle, considerably less power is required to drive the roller and much greater pressure is applied to the material prior to the actual entry thereof into the die apertures. This results in a compressed product possessing greater solidity with less chance of containing voids which, in the case of some types of material, may increase the likelihood of spore formation or internal fermentation which ad"- versely affects the keeping qualities of the finished product. It will also be observed that the entire portion or bore of the die ring not occupied by the extrusion roller forms an extrusion chamber for the reception of material and that the actual eompression'of the material starts at a point on the periphery of the extrusion roller 180 degrees from the point of tangency of the roller and die ring thereby afiording the maximum mechanical advantage of the leverage tending to force the material through the die apertures.

Means is provided for agitating the. material in the hopper so as to facilitate ready flow of the former into the extrusion chamber. Secured by setscrews 54 and by a key 56 to an extension of the upper end of the drive shaft is a hub 51 having a boss 58 extending radially therefrom provided with an axial bore in which is secured, by setscrews 59 and a key 6|, an arm 62 which projects outwardly over the hopper 33. Secured to the arm, medially of its ends, by a setscrew 63 and'a key 69, is a sleeve 65 from which depends a loop-shaped agitator element 66. sides 61 of the agitator element slope downwardly and inwardly to snugly fit against the inner surfaces of the hopper. The bottom 68 and top 69 of the loop thereof preferably slope inwardly, as is shown in Figure 4, toward the opening 10.

Since there is some .vibration present in the mechanism when it is in operation, the material contained in the hopper has a tendencyto compact or cake whereby its flow into the extrusion chamber is retarded. In the absence, therefore, of any means for agitating the material in the hopper, this packing of the material would, by impeding the flow into the extrusion chamber, materially reduce the possible output of the ap- The paratus. By providing the agitating structure,

however, preferably of the type above pointed out, any compaction or clogging of material in the hopper will be prevented and the material maintained in free-flowing condition.

Means is provided for severing the rods of material issuing from the outer ends of the extrusion apertures 9 into fragments or pelletsof uniform length. Formed integrally with and at the distal end of the arm 92 is an axially vertical hub H having a central bore therein in which is mounted a downwardly extendingrod l2 offset and flattened at its lower end to provide a head 13 to which is attached, by suitable bolts It, a cutter blade 16. The rod 12 is capable of rotation in the bore of the hub-ll and is provided at its upper end with a stub extension I1. This rod 12 is removably secured to hub 1i and clamped against rotation'therein by means of bolt 18 threaded on the extension 11, the bolt being adapted to bear upon a washer 19 having an outwardly projecting spur Bl which is secured by means of a relatively small diameter bolt 92 to a lug 83 preferably formed integrally with and ris ng from the arm 62. The distal end of the cutter blade 16 is. positioned to lie on, or closely adjacent to, the outer periphery of the die ring 8. It will be seen, in Figure 1, that as the drive shaft 35 is rotated, to move the extrusion roller ll orbitally within the die ring, the cutter I6 will be moved synchronously around the outer periphery of the die ring due to its connection, above described, with the. drive shaft. As the cutter advances, as is shown in Figure 3, it will shear oil the protruding portions 53 of the compacted rods of material issuing from the die openings thereby forming "short-fragments or pellets of molded material which, falling from the machine, may be caught in a suitable apron or collector. This collector, since it forms no part of the present invention and would only serve to complicate the drawings, is not shown. -It will be readily observed that the cutter mounting above described permits not onlythe speedy removal and replacement of the cutter, but in the event an unyielding substance such as a piece of so-called tramp iron" is imbedded in the extruded material and is met by the knife, instead of the knife or its mounting being injured, the torsion created in rod 12 by the obstructing substance would cause the small bolt 82 to part thereby permitting the cutter to swing outwardly away fromthe die in the direction indicated by the arrow 84 to Figure 3. Thus no damage, other than a broken safety bolt 82, would occur to the mechanism and the same could be readily replaced after removal of the obstructing substance from the die aperture without causing undue tieup of the machine.

In Figure5 I have illustrated a modified con- I struction designed to facilitate adjustment between the confronting faces of the die ring and the extrusion roller where these surfacesmost closely approach each other. In this form of the mechanism, in which most of the parts are identical with those'shown in Figure 1 and bear the same reference characters, the die ring 9| is provided with a downwardly converging conical internal bore 92 and the roller 93 is provided with a periphery 94 which is axially tapered and complementary with the inner periphery of the die ring. As in the structure of Figure 1, the

roller is axially offset with respect to the axis of the die ring and is journaled on the eccentric crank 96 of the drive shaft 91.

The upper end of crank 96 is formed with a collar 98 which is disposed within a counterbore 99 provided at the upper end of the bore of the roller 93. The relative diameters of the collar 98 and the counterbore 99 are such that an annular space is provided around the periphery of the collar in which suitable packing material IOI may be placed, whichpacking is forthe purpose of preventing the leakage of lubricant from the roller journal into I the extrusion chamber 42 where it would contaminate the material con tained therein. The hub 21 of cover plate' 26 is provided with internal threads I02 in which is engaged an externally threaded sleeve I03 which forms the bearing for the upper portion of the drive shaft 91. The lower end of the sleeve I03 rests against the upper surface of the collar 98 and the upper end of such sleeve is provided with a preferably hexagonal head I04 to receive a wrench or other such tool so that the sleeve may be rotated to advance it axially of the hub 2I.

tual extrusion thereby producing a more solidified and evenly textured pellet, but ones in which the constructions are greatly simplified over those heretofore in use, due to the fact that material scrapers and guards within. theextrusion chamber are obviated; thatadiustment may be readily had betweenthe extrusion rollers and die rings in order to compensate for wear between these parts; that extrusion may be effected with lesser expenditure of power; and that the peculiar arrangements of the die rings and extrusion rollers provide the chambers for receiving the material prior 'to the passage thereof through the die openings.

I claim:

l. A device of the character described comprising an annular, perforated die ring, a pair of plates disposed adjacent opposite sides of said die ring to provide within the ring an enclosed chamber, journals in each of said plates axially concentric with the axis of said die'ring, a shaft mounted in said journals and passing through said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereresting on the surface I01, fills the gap between the plate and the bottom of the roller so as to preclude leakage of material, to be extruded, from the bottom of the extrusion chamber. There will be, however, a leakage of some extremely finely divided particles of material, despite the provision of the ring I08, downwardly into the space I09 below the roller and I, therefore, provide a scraper in the form of a radial arm III, which extends from an annular hub llz'mounted on the lower portion of the drive shaft by means of a setscrew H3, which arm upon rotation of the drive shaft swings around the space I09 and sweeps any accumulation of dust or other loose material therein through a discharge opening H4 formed in the plate 6.

In the structure of Figure 5, when the periph- -ery of the extrusion roller 93 becomes worn, so

that the diameter of the roller is reduced to an undesirable degree, the original relation between the peripheries of the roller and the die ring may be secured by removing the filler ring I08 and the scraper III, grinding or otherwise tooling these parts to reduce their thicknesses an equal amount, or by substituting a new ring and scraper of the required thickness, reassembling the parts in the machine and moving the drive shaft and the roller axially downwardly in the hub 21. This downward movement, which depends upon the reduction in thicknesses of the filler ring and scraper, brings the sloping peripheries of the die ring and the extrusion roller together. Of course, any downward movement of the extrusion roller requires that a new and wider ring 5| be substituted for the original ring, or

of disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft to provide a crank, a roller journaled on the offset portion of said shaft having a point on its periphery in substantial engagement with the inner periphery of said die ring so as to provide, between the confronting faces of said die ring androller, a crescent-shaped compartment within said chamber into which moldable material may be introduced, means for introducing said material into said compartment, means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis,

of said die ring to compress and force said material through the perforations of said die ring,

and meansfor moving said roller radially toward and from the inner periphery of said die ring.

2. A device of the character described comprising an annular, perforated die ring, a pair of plates disposed adjacent opposite sides of said die ring to provide within the ring an enclosed chamber, journals in each of said plates axially concentric with the axis of said die ring, a shaft mounted in said journals and passing through said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft to provide a crank, an eccentric bushing journaled on said crank, a roller surrounding and connected with said eccentric bushing, means releasably engaging said roller and said bushing for limiting relative rotation therebetween, said roller being so positioned that a point on its periphery is substantially in engagement with the inner periphery of said die ring so as to provide, between the confronting faces of the roller and die ring a crescent-shaped compartment within the chamber into which moldable material may be introduced, means for introducing said material into said compartment, and meansfor rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis of said die ring to force said material contained in said compartment toward, into and through the perforations of said die ring.

' 3. A device of the class described comprising an annular, perforated die ring, a roller, whose circumference equals at least half of the inner periphery of said die ring, mounted within said die ring, said roller being offset with respect to the axis of said die ring whereby a crescentshaped space is provided between the roller and die ring, a hopper for containing moldable macrescent-shaped space through which said material may flow to enter said space, powered means movable within said hopper for facilitating passage of said material from the hopper into said space, and means operatively connected with said movable means in the hopper for moving-said roller in an orbital path around the am's of said die ring to compress the material in said space and to force the same into the perforations of said die ring. a

4. A device of the class described comprising anannular, perforated die ring, a roller mounted within and insubstantial peripheral engagement with the inner periphery of said die ring, said roller having a diameter substantially greater than halfof the internal diameter of the die ring, means for introducing moldable material between the confronting peripheries of said die opening in communication with said chamber, journals in each of said plates axially concentric with the axis of the die ring, a shaft mounted in said journals and passing through said chamher, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset withrespect to the main body of the shaft, a roller journaled on said ring and roller, means for moving saidroller in said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft, a roller journaled on said oifset portion of said shaft, said roller being so disposed with respect to the die ring as to provide a crescent-shaped compartment within said chamber into which moldable material may be introduced, means for introducing said material into said compartment, and means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis of said die ring to compress and force said material through said perforations.

6. A device of the'character described comprising an annular, perforated die ring, a pair of plates secured to opposite sides of said die ring to provide within the ring an enclosed chamber, journals in each of said plates axially concentric with the axis of the-die ring, a shaft mounted in said journals and passing through said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft, a roller journaled on said offset portion of the shaft and offset portion of the shaft and circumferentially embracing the axis of said die ring, said roller being so disposed with respect to the die ring as to provide a crescent-shaped compartment within said chamber, means for introducing moldable material into said chamber through the annular opening of said plate, and means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis of said die ring to compress and force said material through said perforations.

8. A device of the character described comprising an annular, perforated die ring, a pair of plates secured to opposite sides of said die ring to provide within the ring an enclosed chamber, one of said plates having therein an annular opening in communication with said chamber and upwardly extending side plates bordering said annular opening to provide a hopper into which moldable material maybe placed, journals in each of said plates axiallyconcentric with the 1 axis of the die ring, a shaft mounted in said jourcircumferentially embracing the axis of said die ring, said roller being so disposed with respect to the die ring as to provide a crescent-shaped compartment within said chamber intowhich moldable material may be introduced, means for introducing said material into said compartment, means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis of said die ring to compress and force said material through said perforations, and means driven by said shaft and cooperative with said die ring for separating said material as it emerges from said perforations.

7. A device of the character described comprising an annular, perforated die ring, a pair of plates secured to opposite sides of said die ring to provide within the ring an enclosed chamber, one of said plates having therein an annular nals and passing through said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft, a roller journaled on said offset portion of the shaft and circumferentially embracing the axis of said die ring, said roller being so disposed with respect to the die ring as to provide a crescent-shaped compartment with;

in the chamber in communication with the annular opening of said plate and into which moldable material contained in said hopper may flow, and means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis of said die ring to compress and force said material through said perforations.

9. A device of the character described comprising an annular, perforated die ring, a pair of opening in communication with said chamber and upwardly extending side plates bordering said annular opening to provide a hopper into which moldable material may be placed, journals in each of said plates axially concentric with the axis of the die ring, a shaft mounted in said journals and passing through said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft, a roller journaled on said offset portion of the shaft and circumferentially embracing the axis of said die'ring, said roller being so disposed with respect to the die ring as to provide' a crescent-shaped compartment within the chamber in communication with the annular opening of said plate and into which moldable material contained in said hopper may flow, means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis of said die ring to compress and force said material through said 10.'-A device of the character described 'comprising an annular, perforated die ring, a pair of plates secured to opposite sides of said die ring to provide within the ring an enclosed chamber, I

one of said plates having therein an annular opening in communication with said chamber and upwardly extending side plates bordering said annular opening to provide a hopper into which moldable material maybe placed, journals in each of said plates axially concentric with the axis of the die ring. a shaft mounted in said journals and passing through said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft, a roller journaled on said offset portion of the shaft and circumferentially embracing the axis of said dieiring, said roller being so disposed with respect to the die ring as to provide a crescent-shaped compartment within the chamber in communication with the annular opening of said plate and into which moldable material contained in said hopper may flow, means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis of said die ring to compress and force said material through said die ring perforations, an arm carried by said driveshaft and overlying said hopper, means secured to and depending from said arm into said hopper for agitating the material in said hopper upon movement of said drive shaft, and means for separating said compressed material into,

and upwardly extending'side plates bordering said annular opening to provide a hopper into which moldable material may be placed, journals in each of said plates axially concentric with the axis of the die ring, a shaft mounted in said journals and passing through said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft, a roller'joumaled on said offset portion of the shaft and circumferentially embracing the axis of said die ring, said roller being so disposed withrespec; to the die ring as to provide a crescent-shaped compartment within the chamber in communication with the annular opening of said plate and h into which moldable material contained in said hopper may flow, means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis of said die ring to compress and force said material through said die ring perforations, an' arm carried by said drive shaft and overlying said hopper, means secured to and depending from said arm into said hopper for agitating the material in said hopperupon movement of said drive shaft, a vertically disposed member car- 7 ried by said arm and terminating adjacent the outer periphery of said die ring, and a cutter blade carried by said vertically disposed member and extending toward said periphery of the die ring.

12. A device of the character described comprising an annular, perforated die ring, a pair of plates secured to opposite sides of said die ring to provide within the ring an enclosed chamber, one of said plates having therein an annular opening in communication 'with said chamber and upwardly extending side plates bordering said annular opening to provide a hopper into which moldable, material may be placed, journals in each of said plates axially concentric with the axis of the die ring, a shaft mounted in said journals and passing through said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft, a roller journaled on said offset portion of the shaft and circumferentially embracing the axis of said die ring, said roller being so disposed with respect to the die ring as to provide a crescent-shaped space within the chamber in communication with the annular opening of said plate and into which moldable material contained in said hopper may flow, means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller orbitally about the axis of said die ring to compress and force said material through said die ring perforations, an arm carried by said drive shaft and overlying said hopper, means secured to and depending from said arm into said hopper for agitating the material in said hopper upon movement of said drive shaft, 8. block secured to said arm having an axially vertical bore therein, a rod mounted in said bore and extending downwardly to terminate adjacent the outer periphery of said die ring, and a cutter blade carried by said rod and extending toward and in angular relation to said periphery of the die ring.

13. A device of the character described com- I prising an annular, perforated die ring, a pair of plates secured to opposite sides of said die ring to provide withinthe ring an enclosed chamber, one of'saidplates-having therein an annular opening in communication with said chamber and upwardly extending side plates bordering I said annular opening to provide a hopper into which moldable material may be placed, journals in each of said plates axially concentric with the axisof the die ring, a shaft mounted'in said journals and passing through said chamber, said shaft having a portion thereof disposed in said chamber axially offset with respect to the main body of the shaft, a roller journaled on said offset portion of the shaft and circumferentially embracing the axis of said die ring, said roller being so disposed with respect to the die ring as to provide a crescent-shaped space within the chamber in communication with the annular opening of said plate and into which moldable material contained in said hopper may flow, means for rotating said drive shaft to move said roller-orbitally about the axis of said die-ring to compress and force said material through said die ring perforations, an arm carried by said drive shaft and overlying said hopper, means secured to and depending from said arm into said hopper for agitating the material in said hopper upon movement of said drive shaft, a block secured to said arm having an axially vertical bore therein, a rod mounted for rotation in said bore and extending downwardly to terminate adjacent the outer periphery of said die ring, a cutter blade carried by said rod and extending toward and in angular relation to said periphery of the die ring, and means for releasably securing said rod against rotation in said bore.

14. A device of the character described comprising an axially vertical, annular, perforated die ring, said die ring having a tapering bore, a shaft mounted concentrically with said die ring, said shaft having a portion thereof within the die ring bore eccentrically offset with respect to the rest of the shaft to provide a crank, a roller journaled on said crank, said roller being radially tapered and complementary with the taper of said die ring bore, said roller being posisaid drive shaft to move said roller in an orbital path about the axis of the die ring to compress the material contained in said compartment and to force said material toward, into and through the perforations of said die ring, and means for moving said roller axially with respect to said,dle

' ring.

15. In a device of the crass described, a per forated die ring, a shaft disposed axially concentric with said die ring and having a bearing surface eccentric with respect to the axis of said shaft, a roller having a diameter greater than the radius of said die ring, said roller being journaled on said bearing surface and peripherally cooperative with the inner periphery of said die ring for compressing and forcing material through the perforations thereof upon relative movement between said die ring and said roller, and means for causing said relative movement.

16. In a device of the class described, a perforated die ring, a shaft d sposed axially concentric with said die ring and having an enlarged intermediate eccentric section to provide a bearing surface eccentric with respect to the axis of said shaft, a roller joumaled on said bearing surface and peripherally cooperative with the inner periphery of said die ring for compressing and forcing material through the perforations thereof upon relative movement beaaraeaa tween said die ring and said roller, means for causing said relative movement, and means cooperative with said bearing surface and said roller for varying the position of said roller with reference to said die ring.

17. In a device of the class described, a perforated die ring, a shaft disposed axially concentric with said die ring and having an enlarged. intermediate eccentric section to provide a bearing surface eccentric with respect to the axis of said shaft, a roller mounted on said bearing surface and peripherally cooperative with the inner periphery of said die ring for com pressing and forcing material through the perforations thereof upon orbital movement of said roller about the axis of said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft to cause said orbital movement.

18. In a device of the class described, a perforated die ring, a shaft disposed axially concentric with said die ring and having a bearing surface eccentric with respect to the axis of said shaft, a roller mounted on said bearing surface and peripherally cooperative with the inner periphery of said die ring for compressing and forcing material through the perforations thereof upon orbital movement of said roller about the axis of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft to cause said orbital movement, and adjustable means interposed between said bearing surface and said roller for varying the position of said roller with reference to said die ring.

19. In a device of the class described, a perforated die ring, a shaft disposed axially concentric with said die ring and having a bearing surface eccentric with respect to the axis of said shaft and surrounding the same, a roller mounted on said bearing surface and peripherally cooperative with the inner periphery of said die ring for compressing and forcing material through the perforations thereof upon orbital movement of said roller about the axis of said shaft, means for rotating s. "d shaft to cause'said orbital movement, and means for introducing said material between the confronting faces of said roller and said, die ring throughout the course of orbital movement of said roller.

20. In a device of the class described, a perforated die ring having a tapered bore, a shaft disposed axially concentric with said die ring and having a bearing surface eccentric with respect to the axis of said shaft and surrounding the same, a tapered roller journaled on said bearing surface and peripherally cooperative with the inner periphery of said die ring for compressing and forcing material through the perforations thereof upon relative movement between said die ring and said roller, and means for causing said relative movement.

21. In a device of the class described a perforated die ring having a tapered bore, a shaft disposed axially concentric with said die ring and having a bearing surface eccentric with respect to the axis of said shaft and surrounding the same, a tapered roller journaled on said hear! ing surface and peripherally cooperative with the inner periphery of said die ring for compressing and forcing material through the perforations thereof upon relative movement between said die ring and said roller, means for causing said relative movement, andmeans for moving said roller axially to vary the peripherally cooperative position of said roller with respect to said die ring.

22. In a device of the, class described, a chamber formed at least in part by a circular die, an extrusion member in said chamber, means for causing relative movement between said extrusion member and said circular die, feed mechanism including a substantially circular troughshaped hopper having feed openings in the bottom thereof leading to said chamber and concentric therewith, and an agitator in said circular trough-shaped hopper held at a predetermined position with respect to said extrusion member during such relative movement between said extrusion member and said die.

23. In a device of the class described, a chamber formed at least in part by a circular die and having an end wall, a substantially circular trough-shaped hopper formed on said end wall and opening into said chamber, an extrusion member in said chamber, means for causing relative movement between said extrusion mem- I trusion member in said chamber, means for causing relative movement between said extrusion member and said die, and feed mechanism including a substantially circular trough-shaped hopper having feed openings leading to said chamber and means for causing a progressive feed movement around said circular troughshaped hopper during such relative movement between said extrusion member and said die.

25. In a; device of the class described, a chamber formed at least in part by a circular die, an progressive feed movement around said circular extrusion member in said chamber. means for trough-shaped hopper at a location just ahead causing relative movementbetween said exof said extrusion member during such relative trusion member and said circular die, and feed movement between said extrusion member and mechanism including a substantially circular 5 said die.

trough-shaped hopper having feed openings lead- EDGAR T. MEAKIN. ing to said chamber and means for causing a 

